Romance and The Great Outdoors
When dating and meeting new people, we often find ourselves agreeing to coffee dates — a cup of coffee’s length of time to decide whether or not you ever want to see this person again. There’s also the classic dinner and a movie which, come to think, probably got replaced by the coffee date. Then there’s, “Let’s grab drinks.”
I was used to all of these having lived in the city for so long. Then recently, I moved to the great open plain and experienced a new kind of date — those that involve camping. This was all very new to me, but a few mountain men later, here is what I’ve learned: There are benefits in combining romance with the great outdoors, and at least a few reasons why taking “Mister Right Now” into the woods for a weekend may reveal how he’s “Mister Right.”
First and foremost, the outdoors is a great and refreshing getaway; there’s something about being engulfed in nature that is very relaxing. There are no distractions — just the wind in the trees — which can really help you get to know someone better. (Especially if you both have zero bars on your cell phones — you know who you are!) Fewer distractions and more focus on your current company and the flames of romance practically ignite themselves. You can cook and make meals over an actual fire, snuggle up in a sleeping bag, watch the stars as the campfire burns into the evening, and make s’mores!
Why not open a bottle of wine and relax together? (Pro Tip: Don’t forget a wine opener! Otherwise you’ll have to open the bottle with a shoe and a tree, which you should google by the way because it does work and may save your life.) Anyway, you are literally in a setting where you and your date are possibly the only two people for miles around. If you’re more on the risqué side, make sure there’s a body of water nearby. Think about a late-night skinny dip or even a morning bath together. One can’t spend the whole trip smelling like campfire smoke, especially if you have someone there to wash your back.
For some, the great outdoors is a chance to be more adventurous in the sexual department. I don’t know about you, but it’s not very often I get the opportunity to have sex by a fire, in a tent, or behind a bunch of trees that aren’t adjacent to a 7-Eleven convenience store.
Sex aside, the outdoors allows us to detach from our day-to-day lives and really get to know someone and see what kind of connection may exist. Sure the bright stars, warm fire, and wilderness can leave you wondering if it’s Mr. Right Now or if it’s just the moment that has you feeling bubbly with excitement. I guess falling in love is just the risk you’ll both have to take when you have a ménage à trois with Mother Nature.
